Infectious Diseases

The Infectious Diseases practice at Boston Medical Center is the largest HIV/AIDS program in the New England area and one of the largest STD practices in Massachusetts. The practice offers comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services in all areas of infectious diseases, with particular expertise in HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), diseases incurred through international travel, and Lyme disease. The magnitude and variety of the patient population offers the physicians extensive opportunity for clinical research and offers patients the opportunity to benefit by participating in that research. The Infectious Disease practice offers both adult and pediatric care.

The International Travel Program is designed to keep departing travelers from contracting any diseases or illnesses overseas, as well as to offer immediate, aggressive treatment for returning travelers who may have acquired a disease.

HIV Care

HIV-infected persons receive ongoing primary care within the CID one-stop shopping model and experience seamless transitions between diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. The CID staff creates an individualized treatment plan for each patient receiving HIV treatment and primary care. Creating this plan involves assessing the patient’s overall health to make sure the best medications are prescribed in creating a treatment plan. Medical services offered include care from a team of nurses and doctors specializing HIV/AIDS who are at the forefront of HIV/AIDS research and treatment. In addition, patients can see specialists in the liver, lung, cancer, and psychiatry within the CID. The clinic offers:

Obstetrics and Gynecology Services

Women infected with HIV who become pregnant are able to receive comprehensive HIV-specific care throughout the prenatal period in the Positive HOPE (HIV-OB Program and Education) Clinic. The multidisciplinary team comprised of an adult HIV provider, an OB/GYN trained in maternal-fetal medicine focused on HIV pregnancy care and members of the Pediatric ID team assure seamless peri-partum and post-partum care of the exposed infant.

The team of physicians and staff at the Hope Clinic provide specialized obstetrical care for women infected with HIV that are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. They are experienced in the use of HIV medication during pregnancy for maternal treatment and prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission.

The obstetricians and gynecologists are knowledgeable about the health needs of HIV infected women. Our team of gynecologists and NP have a tremendous depth of knowledge and experience with the gynecological issues of women infected with HIV. They provide women with comprehensive gynecologic services including exams, pap smears, and on-site colposcopies and anoscopies for those with dysplasia.

Pharmacotherapy: The pharmacist collaborates with the doctor to develop, document and execute a plan of care which can include:

collaborate with physicians to evaluate and manage stable chronic conditions such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, COPD, asthma, and heart failure

Adolescent/ Young adults care for those 18-24 years old transitioning from pediatric to adult care

HIV Patient Support Groups

STD/HIV Screening and Treatment

Boston STD Clinic

The Boston STD Clinic performs basic screening for HIV as well as for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Hepatitis C. The STD Clinic provides STD treatment to all clients testing positive, known STD contacts, and those who are symptomatic. PrEP consultations and prescriptions are also available.

Basic testing services are available during walk-in testing hours. All clients who are experiencing symptoms, have been in contact with an STD, or who are interested in PrEP are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment. Walk-in patients will be seen for basic testing, but they may experience longer waits and/or may be unable to see a provider same day for symptoms or treatment since patients with appointments will be seen first.

Location

Testing Hours

HIV and HCV Medical Case Management

The CID offers Medical Case Management services to HIV positive and Hepatitis C positive patients. The CID model of HIV primary care is team-centered; each team consists of an HIV primary care physician, a nurse, and a medical case manager (MCM). Every patient is assigned to a designated care team; this ensures that patients’ medical care will be closely coordinated with MCMs. This multidisciplinary model maximizes service utilization and coordination of care both within the CID and across hospital departments and outside agencies.

Services include:

Health insurance assistance

Transportation assistance

Housing assistance

Utility assistance

Substance use and abuse risk reduction

Assisted referrals to other support services

Adherence support

Sexual health promotion

HIV Support Groups

The CID offers a variety of weekly groups including:

Newly diagnosed or reengaged in care group

Women’s group

Community luncheons

Men’s group

Substance use

Clinic staff facilitate groups and rotate topics selected by participants and facilitators to address the most relevant issues of interest.

Mental Health

Mental health services are offered to HIV positive patients of CID. Many patients work with the CID mental health team which offer sessions with therapists and a psychiatrist.

Services include:

Diagnostic assessments

Crisis interventions

Time-sensitive treatments as clinically indicated or when facilitating transition to outside therapy resources

The CID mental health clinicians are licensed independent clinical social workers (LICSW) with experience in HIV, trauma, and multicultural mental health issues. There is also a clinic based psychiatrist for appropriate medication therapies.

Infectious Disease Consult Service

The Center for Infectious Diseases offers in depth evaluation and management of adult patients with bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral diseases including HIV and its complications. The providers at the CID specialize in multiple infectious disease states including bone and joint infections, mycobacterial disease, Lyme disease, and tropical infections, as well as complications associated with states of immunosuppression. The practice also provides state of the art pre-transplant evaluations and prophylaxis assessment for patients undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatment modalities.

The FAST PATH Program (Facilitated Access to Substance abuse Treatment with Prevention and Treatment of HIV) is a specialized team based in the Center for Infectious Diseases (CID) to address substance abuse issues. The clinical team includes an addition specialist MD, a substance abuse nurse, and a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

Substance abuse counseling includes:

Longitudinal, coordinated care for substance abuse

Addiction counseling

Medication-assisted treatment

Clinical case management

One-on-one counseling

Facilitated access to detoxification programs

Support groups

Suboxone as an opiate recovery alternative

Regular substance use monitoring and follow-up

90 – 90 – 90 Treatment Target to Help End the Spread of AIDS

Consumer Advisory Board (CAB)

Consumers are essential partners in the development and provision of services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS and are directly considered in the development and implementation of CID programs and services.

Since the spring of 2002, CID has maintained its own Consumer Advisory Board (CAB) to represent People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who receive their care at BMC. The CID CAB meet monthly to inform, advise, and assist with the design and implementation of service programs. CAB members serve as liaisons between the large patient population and BMC administration, sharing their opinions and expertise about matters affecting BMC’s CID such as: decisions related to service provision, program design, and implementation. The CAB’s diverse membership reflects the profile of the patients who receive their care at BMC, and therefore represents those individuals who are disproportionately affected by HIV infection.